Joseph Mandrillon to John Adams: A Translation

[dateline] 20 December 1780

[salute] Sir

Professor Henners in Utrecht has written to inform me that the bookseller Wild has
imprisoned Mr. Cerisier under the pretext that he can only do his work at Utrecht,
not at Amsterdam. This proceeding is as undignified as it is unjust. As I cannot leave
at mid-day, I have written hastily to inform Mr. de Neufville of the same thing. Oblige
me, sir, by acting in concert with him and, through your credence with the magistrate
here, obtain Mr. Cerisier's freedom.1 I have the honor to be in haste, with a distinguished consideration, your very humble
obedient servant.

1. The bookseller Bartholomé Wild employed Antoine Marie Cerisier as a writer, principally
to work on his as yet uncompleted Tableau de l'histoire générale des Provinces-Unies, 10 vols., Utrecht, 1777–1784. When Cerisier left Utrecht for Amsterdam and thereby
threatened the Tableau's completion, Wild took action (Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic and Amer. Independence, p. 125–126). Whether JA played any part in obtaining Cerisier's release or resolving his dispute with Wild
is unknown, but when Cerisier wrote JA on 15 April 1781 (Adams Papers), he was at Amsterdam at work on his periodical, Le politique hollandais.

Docno: ADMS-06-10-02-0246

Author: Adams, John

Recipient: President of Congress

Recipient: Huntington, Samuel

Date: 1780-12-21

To the President of Congress, No. 28

[dateline] Amsterdam Decr. 21. 1780

[salute] Sir

The Sentiments and Affections of a People, may be learned from many little Circumstances,
which few Persons attend to. The Poets and orators, are generally considered as the
Surest Repositories of popular Ideas both in ancient and modern nations. The Clergy
may be classed among the latter: and it is very certain that most publick Preachers,
accommodate both their Sermons and their Prayers, in Some degree to the general Taste
of their Hearers, and avoid every Thing, which will unnecessarily give them offense.
At Rotterdam, there are Several English Churches. The Presbyterian Church which would
be the least likely, one Should think, to be bigotted to England, I attended. The
Parson, after petitioning Heaven in his Prayer, for the States of Holland and West
Friesland, the States General and Council of State, and for the Prince of Orange their
hereditary Statholder and Governor, &c. added a Petition for England, for the King
Queen and Royal Family, for their Health, Long Life and Prosperity, and Added, with
peculiar Emphasis, that he might tryumph over all his Ennemies, in the four Quarters
of the Globe.

At Amsterdam I have attended both the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches and heard
Similar Supplications to Heaven, in both.

At Utrecht, I attended the Presbyterian Church and there heard a Prayer for the English,
with more fervour Still, and in greater details. The Parson was quite transported
with his Zeal, and prayed that the Rebellion which had So long prevailed, might be
Suppressed, and hide its Head in Shame.

At Leyden there is another English Church. The Parson I am told is a Tory, but prudently
omits Such Kind of Prayers.

This is a Work of Supererogation in these Reverend Zealots, and is therefore a Stronger
Proof, that Such Sentiments are popular. The English, who are numerous in all these
Cities, are universally in favour of the British Ministry: but there are so many Dutch
Families, who understanding the English Language, worship in these { 427 } Churches, that the Clergy would not give them offence, if such Prayers were offensive.

This is the more remarkable, as the Religion of North America, is more like that of
this Republick, than like that of England. But Such Prayers recommend the Parsons
to the Prince of Orange and the English Party, and no other Party or Person has Influence
or Courage enough to take offence at them.

I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, sir, your most obedient and most
humble Servant